Space Junk Causing Military Concerns Of Confrontations

In 2010 the Judiciary Report did articles on space pollution regarding junk left behind by space crews (Space Pollution and Space Pollution - Part 2). Months after the article was published on the Judiciary Report, both Russia and America commissioned studies on the potential impact of space junk. Two years later in 2012, space junk nearly hit a group of astronauts in what could have turned fatal (Space Junk Nearly Hits Astronauts Forcing Them To Flee To Capsules). It is a genuine matter of concern.

Media reports this week indicate space junk is creating other problems. Scientists are stating nations are in danger of mistaking impacting space junk for attacks by other countries on their satellites in space. Russia, who were the first nation in space, are set to publish a report on the subject. The Guardian newspaper in London wrote, "In a report to be published in the journal Acta Astronautica, Vitaly Adushkin at the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow writes that impacts from space junk, especially on military satellites, posed a 'special political danger' and 'may provoke political or even armed conflict between space-faring nations. The owner of the impacted and destroyed satellite can hardly quickly determine the real cause of the accident.'"

STORY SOURCE

Rise in space junk could provoke armed conflict say scientists  

Friday 22 January 2016 13.54 EST - Last modified on Friday 22 January 2016 17.02 EST - The steady rise in space junk that is floating around the planet could provoke a political row and even armed conflict, according to scientists, who warn that even tiny pieces of debris have enough energy to damage or destroy military satellites. Researchers said fragments of spent rockets and other hurtling hardware posed a “special political danger” because of the difficulty in confirming that an operational satellite had been struck by flying debris and had not fallen victim to an intentional attack by another nation.

Space agencies in the US and Russia track more than 23,000 pieces of space junk larger than 10cm, but estimates suggest there could be half a billion fragments ranging from one to 10cm, and trillions of even smaller particles. The junk poses the greatest danger to satellites in low Earth orbit, where debris can slam into spacecraft at a combined speed of more than 30,000mph. This realm of space, which stretches from 100 to 1200 miles above the surface, is where most military satellites are deployed...

Data in the study from the Russian space agency show that the International Space Station took evasive action five times in 2014 to avoid space debris. Even small flecks of paint that have flaked off spacecraft can be hazardous. Nasa’s space shuttle was struck by flying paint several times in orbit, forcing ground staff to replace some of the spaceship’s windows. The report follows a report commissioned by Nasa in 2011 which warned that the level of space junk was rising exponentially, and had reached a “tipping point” in the threat it posed to satellites and the International Space Station.

http://www.theguardian.com

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ESA Searching For Rosetta Philae Probe That Is Now Transmitting Pictures But Running Out Of Solar Battery Power Endangering The Space Mission

 

Philae space probe on Comet 67P

The exciting, admirably ambitious European Space Agency (ESA) Philae probe continues to transmit photos of the rubber duck shaped comet 67P, which it landed on two days ago, for an exploratory mission. It took the Rosetta spaceship, carrying the Philae probe, 10-years, traveling 4-billion miles, to arrive at comet 67P, which is hurling through space at 40,000 MPH. When you think about it, it is remarkable the probe even landed on the comet at all, given the logistics and time factor. The project costs an estimated $1.6 billion dollars.

ESA is searching for the exact location of Philae, which is thought to be stuck on its side against a hard surface and running out of solar power, due to being in the shadows. Philae's solar panels are not receiving enough sunlight as the comet rotates to charge the battery. Power is expected to run out in the next 24-hours.   

Philae was designed with three legs, possibility to make it more aerodynamic. However, things with three legs, are sometimes less stable (for example, a director's film camera tripod has three legs and if not precisely extended and locked in place on the right angle, the camera will not be stable). Four legs (or more, but in an even number) could have possibly made the probe more stable. The left legs would have to move in unison, as would the right legs, alternating like a human walking or centipede crawling, providing more stability.

Based on specs listed online, the Philae probe has a drill, which is great. The length of the drill would mean unearthing valuable data about the core of the comet that holds significant secrets. As the comet qualifies as extraterrestrial, its core can reveal information about its true origins and what is driving it. And make no mistake, something is driving it. 

However, due to Philae's battery issues, activating the drill is problematic and would deplete it's power. The ESA has indicated it wants to drill, but due to power issues, are saving it as a last option. The ESA are contemplating a maneuver to get Philae on its three feet, but time is limited to do so.

One can only imagine what's in the core of the comet and the drill would hit a serious payload if it were able to explore. The core likely contains something rare, as well as noxious gases and possibly a black oil like substance (like drilling for oil on earth). Additionally, if the drill were capable of extracting useable samples, would it be sanitized and safe in the event it were able to reach back to earth, so it would not pose a threat to humanity. 

ESA Probe Lands On Comet But Trouble Strikes

Philae space probe descending on Comet 67P

The European Space Agency (ESA) grabbed headlines around the world as their historic Philae probe, apart of the Rosetta spacecraft, safely detached and landed on comet 67P yesterday. It is a fantastic project that was many years in the making. As I've stated on Twitter many times, I would love to go into space one day. There's so much to discover. I am a lover of science (see some of my science articles below).

My tweet

However, early yesterday morning before the comet landed, I stated on Twitter that I am of the belief, "There's something rare is in the comet." Several hours after my tweet, an announcement was made by ESA that the probe is having difficulty attaching to the comet, "Instead of harpooning itself to the surface after a seven-hour descent from mothership Rosetta, early radio signals suggest Philae could have settled in a soft surface or gently lifted off and then redescended."

Once again, I reiterate, I am of the belief, "There's something rare is in the comet." The contents thereof could be creating the attachment issues, repelling the probe. Either way, the mere fact the probe landed is a historic success. Congratulations.

STORY SOURCE

European probe lands on comet, fails to anchor

AFP 2 hours ago - Darmstadt (Germany) (AFP) - Europe made history Wednesday by placing the first-ever lander on a comet -- but the robot failed to anchor itself properly, raising concerns at ground control. The fridge-sized lab dubbed Philae touched down on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in a high-risk manoeuvre more than 510 million kilometres (320 million miles) from Earth, the European Space Agency (ESA) said.

But instead of harpooning itself to the surface after a seven-hour descent from mothership Rosetta, early radio signals suggest Philae could have settled in a soft surface or gently lifted off and then redescended. "So maybe today we didn't once, we even landed twice," Philae lander manager Stephan Ulamec quipped at ground control in Darmstadt, Germany a few hours after touchdown.

"Hopefully, we are sitting there on the surface at a position slightly different to the original landing and can continue our science." Several instruments onboard Philae had already sent back "plenty of data," he said. Engineers have yet to figure out what prevented the 100-kilo (220-pound) lander from shooting its duo of harpoons into the comet's surface to prevent it drifting away from its low-gravity host. Nor is its fate entirely clear. "Did we just land in a soft sandbox and everything is fine even though we are not anchored... or is there something else happening?" said Ulamec.

www.news.yahoo.com

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Space Pollution

The race for space tourism has opened opportunities, but created cosmic environmental issues as well. As companies have been granted licenses for space tourism, so increases the probability of pollution in the cosmos.

Individuals not only seek to set up colonies in space, creating pollution and disturbing the natural balance of the universe, some seek to engage in exploration that sounds environmentally risky. After witnessing the environmental abuse earth has taken at modern mankind's hand, it would be a disgrace if the same transpired in space. We've already messed up earth, do we really need to mess up space as well. Rules need to be drafted.